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Today I won the least satisfying £10.50 ever. If Cardiff had beaten Leeds in the early kick-off then we would have been guaranteed playoffs. Sadly we drew one-all after again surrendering a goal lead in a match. We’re the club that has dropped the most points from leading positions this season which is very annoying.

Anyway, despite drawing we could still have been confirmed a playoff spot if Middlesbrough failed to beat second placed Southampton. With this is mind I thought I’d stick a fiver on Boro to win. Happy if they lose or draw as we would be guaranteed playoffs, happy if they won as I’d be over a tener up. It turned out that Middlesbrough did win to keep us on edge going into the final game next week and to be honest, I’d have much preferred to have lost my fiver in that sense but hey ho.

Applause for former Cardiff manager Eddie May who sadly passed away last week

Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause in memory of former Cardiff manager Eddie May who sadly passed away last week. Liam Lawrence had the first effort for the Bluebirds but his shot was easily saved by the impressive Andy Lonergan in the Leeds goal. Ex-City forward Ross McCormack then missed a great chance to give the Yorkshire side the lead with his header going just wide of the post.

But the Bluebirds were dominant in the first-half and took the lead on 41 minutes through Joe Mason. The youngster, who signed a new four-year deal this week, raced onto Peter Whittingham’s long pass and lobbed the ball over the advancing Lonergan from inside the box. Miller then had an 18-yard strike saved by the Leeds keeper in first-half stoppage time.

For some reason Cardiff seemed lethargic after the break and couldn’t get a foothold in the game. Leeds, with renewed purpose, went close through Thompson, Becchio and Pugh before Cardiff finally had a second-half chance of their own 70 minutes in. Andrew Taylor’s goal-bound volley was well saved by Lonergan who was to thank for his side leaving with a point. The away side dealt City’s playoffs hopes a blow when Becchio headed in from a corner 15 minutes from time.

The draw denied City from confirming a place in the playoffs

Leeds deserved their point and Cardiff are now unbeaten in nine games; however six of those have been draws. It’s a shame that we couldn’t secure a playoff spot today as it would have taken the pressure off us going into the final game against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Fingers crossed we can get the job done there.

The manager and owners thanked fans after the final home game of the season. TG still remembers that Liverpool score then!

Cardiff City

01 Marshall

02 McNaughton (Blake – 90′ )

03 Taylor

05 Hudson

25 Turner

07 Whittingham

13 Lawrence

17 Gunnarsson Booked

37 McPhail (Kiss – 64′ )

09 Miller (Earnshaw – 90′ )

20 Mason

Substitutes

22 Heaton

04 Kiss

23 Blake

52 Ralls

10 Earnshaw

Leeds United

01 Lonergan

04 Bruce

22 Lees

26 Bromby (Connolly – 32′ )

33 Robinson

15 Clayton Booked (Nunez – 60′ )

16 Pugh

29 Thompson

10 Becchio

23 Snodgrass

44 McCormack (Webber – 59′ )

Substitutes

02 Connolly

31 Taylor

20 Nunez

18 Forssell

25 Webber

Ref: Halsey

Att: 25,109

Permission for pictures given by Jon Candy

Cardiff host Leeds tomorrow and a win in the early kick off will guarantee us a playoff place. The Bluebirds are currently on an eight game unbeaten run and although we’ve not been scoring too many of late, we have made ourselves very difficult to beat this season.

Three points against the Yorkshire club will give us a playoff spot for the third consecutive year. However if Middlesbrough fail to beat Southampton we will also be ensured of a top six finish.

Leeds are the visitors at the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow (12.30pm)

The Bluebirds go into the game unbeaten in their last eight matches, although five of those have been draws. Fingers crossed we can get the job done tomorrow to take the pressure off ourselves for the final week, but Leeds are going to be difficult to beat.

The previous meeting between the two sides this season ended in a one-all draw with Joe Mason scoring for the Bluebirds. Let’s hope we can go one better tomorrow and take all three points and secure ourselves a place in the playoffs.

Permission for pictures given by Jon Candy

My favourite ever Cardiff City game has to be the 2-1 win against Leeds in the FA Cup at Ninian Park in 2002.

Leeds at the time were the kings of British football. Top of the Premiership and playing in Europe, while we were two leagues lower in the old Division Two (now League One). The atmosphere at a rammed Ninian Park was insane in what was a giant killing at the time.

The Premier League leaders then had Alan Smith sent off for a foul on Andy Legg before things got even more crazy when Scott Young scored the winner three minutes from time, invoking a pitch invasion from the Cardiff fans at full-time.